ATLANTIS: MORNING
Sam was found in her office early. Sleep was something that she could not conquer. Yawning over a cup of coffee, she tried to complete the load of reports that were still on her desk. Her focus was so intense she didn't hear Jennifer knocking on her door.
"Colonel?" Jennifer called to her. Sam was deep in thought. Something told Jennifer it didn't have anything to do with the report that was in front of her. She remembers her conversation while stuck in that underground mine. She also knew that SG1 had become such a tight family, and that couldn't be so easily replaceable.
"Colonel?" she said again, this time entering the office, before Sam noticed.
"Jennifer" Sam said startled. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in" she stated, pretending to be working on the reports in front of her.
"I just wanted to let you know, that we've completing our testing of the planet, and we are good to go. I'd like to be able to retrieve the samples, so that we can start testing as soon as possible" Jennifer said hoping to bring Sam back from her thoughts. They were conducting research on a planet, and discovered plants with amazing healing properties. But they first had to go through quarantine before they can bring them to Atlantis, in case of any diseases.
"Of course! I'll have a team go with to assist" Sam immediately snapped back into Colonel Mode. She realized she needed to stay in that mode. These people depended on her, no matter how lonely she was truly feeling.
Several hours later…..
Colonel Sam Carter, was back. She assisted the team, in retrieving the samples, and completed her reports. She made her rounds, as she always did, suppressing memories and emotions. The cry she had in the tub that night, allowed for a release, which now enabled her to be more focused.
She bounced into her normal routine, and her team, her new team, sensed she was feeling better. They admired her greatly for they knew she was an exceptional leader, and they were also learning she was a great friend.
As she made her rounds, she reached the Gate Room. The monthly normal supplies, were being delivered, and maintained. She did her normal sign offs, and overview of supplies. The gate activates, getting ready for its next shipment to arrive. As the crew begins to unload, an unexpected arrival enters through the gate. Sam's back was to the gate, assessing all the supplies that arrived. When she heard the commotion from the crew behind, she didn't have to time to turn around before she heard an all too familiar voice. "Good morning, All"
She suddenly froze.
"Could it be?" "Am I dreaming?" she thought to herself.
It was none other than General Jack O'Neill.
"Surprise" He stated, with his hands wailing in the air.
Sam couldn't move.
"Ahh…Carter…." Jack knew how she hated surprises. With her back turned to him, she took a deep breath and slowly turned to face him.
"Sir…I, Um….I didn't…did I miss something…..I didn't" Sam was reaching for words. Her mind was going a mile a minute wondering if she missed something. How can I not know he was coming? Did I miss a report to review? What kind of a leader am I that I don't know the General is coming for a visit?
"Hey…you can stop thinking Carter" Jack said. Oh he knew her so well.
"Hence why I said, Surprise" he knew it would drive her crazy if he didn't elaborate.
He moved closer to her. She could hardly breathe. The timing of this was incredible. Just when she thought she had suppressed all the emotions she was experiencing, her heart walks through the gate, and is standing inches away from her.
"Carter?" Jack said. He could still see the wheels turning in her mind. But he could also sense something was wrong. What he wanted to do was, tell her to C'mere, and hold her, because in all honesty, he was missing her as well, but the audience they currently had did not allow for it. So Jack did what he did best, made light of the situation.
He stepped away from her.
"Quite a place you have here" he said, looking around, trying change the mood.
Sam realized she had to snap out of it.
"Thank you, thank you Sir…" she walked towards him.
"Had I known you were coming we would have been better prepared." She stated. The subtle remark was just enough to confirm that she still hated surprises.
"Would you like the 50 cent tour?" She said and gave him that all familiar smile.
"I'd love it, Carter, but first, the mess hall…I'm starving" He could see that she was lightening up.
All he wanted to do was grab and hold her. Carter wasn't the only one who was suffering. Her CO, her love, was missing her as well.
They both walked side by side to the mess hall. No words spoken. She again gave him that all familiar smile that melted him each time.
"So Carter, how are you settling in?" He wanted to break the silence, as well as the thoughts that were running through his head.
"Quite nicely Sir" she said, but not to convincing.
"That's great Carter" Jack said, knowing she wasn't being honest, but now wasn't the time to pry.
"The people here have been quite welcoming, and I'm starting to gain my footing" she said, as they neared the mess hall.
"That's great Carter… didn't doubt it for a second" Jack said. The confidence he had in her, always made her smile. But he still could sense there wasn't something off about her. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he definitely was going to find out.
They arrived at the mess hall. All eyes were on him as he entered the room. Before everyone got up to salute him, he yelled out "At Ease…At ease". Again he knew he would take everyone by surprise.
They all sat, and at one point they were all starring. Here was their Colonel, and now her once, Colonel now General arriving with no announcement. She realized that it could look bad on her, that she didn't announce his arrival.
But Jack knew her so well, so before she even reacted,
"Good afternoon everyone, just here on a surprise visit to see an old friend, and to finally take a look at this place. You all have a great set up, pretty sweet, I say"
With that, the mood immediately changed. Everyone smiled, chuckled, and went back to their conversations, and meals.
He looked at Carter, she just had that amazing grin. They can almost read each other's minds.
They grabbed some food, and sat down at a corner table, hoping to get some privacy. Well as much as they could with a mess hall full of military and the like.
They sat quietly for a time, and just ate. She had to admit, eating was something she had foregone as well. Something he knew all too well.
Jennifer was sitting nearby, and slowly started to put one and one together. Her mind went back to that underground mine. "Wait…what was it that she said?" she thought to herself.
"Hmm…a General, in Washington, older, complicated…" Jennifer suddenly realized Jack O'Neill was more than the General to Samantha Carter. She smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" John asked, seeing her face. He had joined her for some grub.
"Huh…oh nothing, it's just good to see her smiling again" she said, trying not to look so obvious.
"They've been through a lot together" John stated.
"Yes, they have" Jennifer replied.
John started walking towards them.
"Wait, where are you going?" Jennifer said. She didn't want him to interrupt them.
"I'm just gonna let Sam know that everything's been taken care of in the gate room, and she doesn't have to worry about it..." he said. He knew her well enough to know that she would go right back to work, if she had an outstanding issue to take care of. Jennifer understood.
"Good afternoon General. Great to see you" John said.
"Hey Sheppard" Jack replied.
"Great to see you as well, heck of a place you got here" Jack said.
"Yea, we manage" John smirked.
"Well listen, I don't want to interrupt. Just wanted to let Carter know, I've taken care of the shipment in the gate room. We are all good to go" John wanted to make sure she knew she could let her hair down, just a little.
"Oh wow, um, thank you John, you didn't need to do that" She said, worried if she had slacked on her responsibilities.
"Hey that's what friends are for, huh. Besides it would give you time to catch with the General" John said. He knew what the past several weeks were a lot more than just missing SG-1.
Where Sam would have protested or argued that she would have gone back and taken care of it, she smiled at John, and said "Thank you"
"You got it" John replied, and with that he walked away and let them be. Jack looked at Sam, he found himself just staring at her. "God she is beautiful" he said to himself. Her hair had grown, and she was wearing it out. She usually always had it tied back. This new look of Carter, he was liking, a lot.
"Sir…" Sam, called out to him. She could see he was in another world.
"Huh…oh…right right, so as I was saying" Jack had no idea what he was saying, but he knew what he was thinking.
"So are you going to tell me, the real reason you're here?" She broke the silence.
"Can't a friend, come out and see a friend" Jack said, shoving his mouth with a spoonful of mash potatoes.
"Sir" she said, but gave him a look as if to say, you're lying but she knew he knew her well, so the look was enough.
"Carter, listen,…. The paper pushing, stuffy parties, where driving me mad. I needed a break. So when I read the report…
"You read a report?" Carter interrupted, and chuckled softly under her breathe.
Jack paused, and gave her that sarcastic look.
"A-s I re-ad th-e re-port," He said slowly after her remark, " that equipment was being shipped to Atlantis, I decided to tag along" He said.
"And here I am". He looked around and bobbled his head, as only Jack O'Neill would do.
Carter just smiled. She was taking in every curvature of his face, his jaw line, his eyes, and his smile. She found herself there again, "Oh how she missed this man".
"Carter?" Jack saw she suddenly was in deep though.
"Huh…oh sorry Sir…" she replied. "Well, it's really great to see you…I've missed you" before she knew those very words came out of her mouth.
He paused for a second, but didn't skip a beat "I missed ya too Carter". Keeping it light ..
They sat and continue to eat, keeping the mood, light, talking about Atlantis. They found themselves reminiscing about all times. Jack did have a reason as to why he was there, but needed to find the most opportune moment. For right now, he was enjoying seeing his Sam. For that's how he saw her. He never acted it on, even when she almost married Pete, but in his heart, mind and soul, she was his. They sat for a little while longer, and Jack broke the silence.
"So that 50 cent tour" He said, getting up and stretching.
Sam smiled. "Ah, yes…" she said. "Shall we?"
She got up from her seat, and they headed to the promenade. She wanted to show him the view from there first. As they walked, they would lightly touch each other, as their hands were on their sides. Neither of them knowing that each touch from each other, was a igniting the embers they had for so many years.
As they reached the Promenade, the doors opened. The view was breath taking. Jack was taken aback.
"Holy Hanna Carter" he said. She shot a look at him, and started laughing. He had adapted to her euphemisms just as she had adapted to his.
"Gorgeous isn't it?" She said back watching him marvel at the site. But then suddenly he wasn't marveling the view of the city, but the view of a gorgeous blonde, standing in front of him.
He saw that they were finally alone. He stepped closer to her, with his hands in his pocket. She couldn't move. How she longed to here that word.
They stood in silence for a brief moment, long enough for a tear to roll down Sam's face. Sam's emotions were taking over, and he knew it.
"C'mere" He said. The one/two words she was waiting to hear, and extended his arms to her.
She fell into his embrace. She couldn't hold back the tears. He just held her, and with her guard down, like it's never been before, she shocked herself; with the next words she uttered "God I missed you Jack". Jack was glad she couldn't see his face. The use of his first name, made him realize, there was a lot more to this hug than he realized. And he reciprocated. "I've missed you too Sam" and then placed his face on the side of her neck. No kiss, just his lips so close to her neck, but not touching. She held on tighter. And he just rocked her side to side, and let her cry. Much like when Dr. Frasier passed. They just held each other for that moment.
With what felt like an eternity, they stood there holding each other. Jack finally broke the embrace. He wiped her tears away.
"You ok?" he asked her. Wanting everything is his being to kiss this amazing women standing in front of him.
She nodded. She probably could cry for another hour, but she knew she had to get it together.
"Thank you" she said
"For what?" he said.
"For being here" she said.
"Remember Carter, Always" He said. He meant every word of it. When her fathered died, he was there for her. And he would always be there for her.
He leaned in and gently laid a kiss on her forehead.
By this time, it was getting late, and he knew he needed to go take a cold shower because a certain women by the name of Samantha Carter had made his body react in all kinds of ways.
"How about you show me where I can crash for the night" he said.
"Of course…I'll bring you to our guest quarters" she said.
"It's a pretty sweet set up" she said to him, knowing she would never put him up in anything but the best.
"Lead the way, Colonel" he said with the biggest smirk on his face.
She smiled and led him down the corridor.
They reached his door. They both just stood knowing what each really wanted but not being able to act on it.
"Well you have a good night Sir" She broke the awkwardness'.
"You too Carter…how bout we do breakfast tomorrow" he already wanted to be with her as soon as I got up.
"I'd like that Sir…." She said with a Cheshire grin.
"Then breakfast it is. Tomorrow morning then" He said.
"Good night Sir" She said, but this time he said, "Good night Sam".
Hearing her name on his lips, she made her smile grow larger.
Her heart was bubbling over. Where 2 weeks ago, she was missing this man so much her heart ached, here he was making her heart pound almost out of her chest. She smiled. Her head dropped, and she walked away.
As she walked the corridor to her quarters, she almost had a quick in her step. He is here, He was with her. She knew tonight, she would conquer sleep, because Jack had conquered her heart.